Association between IL-17 gene polymorphisms and circulating IL-17 levels in osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis.

Objective: This study systemically reviewed the evidence regarding associations between polymorphisms in interleukin-17 (IL-17) genes and osteoarthritis (OA) susceptibility, and the relationship between circulating IL-17 levels and OA.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of the associations between the IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 polymorphisms and risk for OA and serum/plasma IL-17 levels in OA patients and controls.

Results: Eight studies including 2214 OA patients and 2474 controls were included. Our meta-analysis identified a significant association between OA and the AA genotype of the IL-17A rs2275913 polymorphism in a pooled cohort of affected individuals, compared to the case in a pooled cohort of control participants (OR = 1.516, 95% CI = 1.260-1.825, P < 0.001), and a significant association between OA and the CC genotype of the IL-17F rs763780 polymorphism (OR = 2.257, 95% CI = 1.376-3.704, p = 0.001). OA site-based stratification identified an association between the AA genotype of the IL-17A rs2275913 polymorphism and the CC genotype of the IL-17F rs763780 polymorphism and knee OA, but not hip OA. Furthermore, the same patterns of significant associations between OA and the IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 polymorphisms were identified based on homozygote contrasts. The OA patients showed significantly higher IL-17 levels than the control subjects (SMD = 1.830, 95% CI = 1.184-2.477, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our meta-analysis revealed associations between the IL-17A rs2275913 and IL-17F rs763780 polymorphisms and OA susceptibility, and the presence of significantly higher circulating IL-17 levels in OA patients.